Globally cardiovascular disease is a huge health issue. It is one of the leading causes of death, accounting for around a quarter of all fatalities.

The name cardiovascular disease refers to a range of conditions that affect the heart and circulatory system including heart failure, coronary heart disease and stroke.

As with any health condition, the sooner you spot the warning signs the sooner you can seek the correct medical advice and treatment. However, one expert warned that there are some signs of heart problems that can go by “overlooked”.

Speaking to Harvard Health Publishing, cardiologist Doctor Randall Zusman from Massachusetts General Hospital, shared a red flag sign that can appear when walking up the stairs.

“Any symptom that seems to be provoked by exertion and relieved by rest could be heart-related,” he explained. “Particularly in people with underlying risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, tobacco use, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and a strong family history of heart disease, other symptoms besides chest pain may be the clue to a heart problem.”

This warning sign is becoming short of breath when walking up the stairs. People could easily mistake this for a sign that they are a bit out of shape.

However, don’t be worried if you’ve climbed multiple flights of stairs and feel this way – it applies to people who can only manage a few steps.

Dr Zusman said: “If you climb up five flights of stairs, I expect you to be short of breath. But if you go up 10 stairs and you’re short of breath, that may indicate a heart problem.”

“Heart conditions such as angina, heart attacks, heart failure and some abnormal heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation can all cause shortness of breath. 

“These conditions may cause breathlessness for different reasons. If your heart isn’t pumping enough oxygen-containing blood around the body, your body responds by breathing faster to try to get more oxygen into your body, making you feel short of breath.   

“Or if your heart isn’t working as well as it should, this could cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. ”

The BHF adds that breathlessness caused by heart issues could be “triggered” by climbing stairs as well as activities such as gardening and shopping.

This symptom can be “frightening”, the BHF says.

“This may trigger feelings of panic, which can lead to rapid breathing, making your breathlessness worse,” it says.

Other symptoms of heart disease include:

• Chest pain
• Feeling sick
• Stomach pain or indigestion
• Feeling sweaty
• Leg or arm pain
• Jaw or back pain
• A restricting or choking sensation
• Swollen ankles
• Extreme fatigue
• Irregular heartbeat.

If you experience any signs of a heart problem you should seek immediate medical help.